Dear NASET News,

Welcome toNASET'sWEEK in REVIEW. Here, we provide you with the latest publications fromNASETto read and or download, as well as some of the most interesting articles that have happened this week in the field of special education. We hope you enjoy this publication. Feel free to send us articles for this publication or let us know your thoughts about theWEEK in REVIEWatnews@naset.org.Have a great weekend.Sincerely,

NASETNews Team

NASET Sponsor - University of Nebraska

New This Week on NASET

NASET's HOW TO Series

May 2014

How To Discuss a Parent's Rights

Introduction

As a special educator it is very important that you be aware of the rights of all those involved in the special education process. Knowing your own rights and responsibilities is very important. However, just as important are the rights of your students and their parents in the special education process. Knowing these rights can only assist students and parents in this complicated and sometimes overwhelming process.

&

NASET's HOW TO Series

May 2014

How To Gather Information on a New Student

Introduction

It is widely understood that the more information you have on your students the more realistic you can be about setting goals, understanding expectations, avoiding frustration and increasing the chances of success. This How To Series gives you a checklist on the necessary materials an information you should gather on every new student in your class.

Brain Changes May Accompany Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis in Kids

A serious complication of type 1 diabetes called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) can cause temporary changes to the brain matter of children newly diagnosed with the disease, researchers say. What's more, those changes may cause a decrease in memory and attention that persists for at least half a year following the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, the new study reports. "Children and adolescents diagnosed with type 1 diabetes with diabetic ketoacidosis have evidence of brain gray matter shrinkage and white matter swelling," said the study's lead author, Dr. Fergus Cameron, head of diabetes services at Royal Children's Hospital in Victoria, Australia. "While these changes resolve within the first week, there are associated residual cognitive changes -- memory and attention -- that are present six months after diagnosis." To read more,click here

Large Study Finds No Autism-Vaccine Link

An international review involving more than 1.25 million children is further debunking long-held concerns about an association between vaccines and autism. Scientists found no association between the developmental disorder and immunizations for measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus or whooping cough. What's more, they did not find any link between autism and thimerosal or mercury, which are sometimes used as preservatives in vaccines. The findings published in the journal Vaccine this month are based on a review of 10 previously published studies looking at the experiences of over a million kids. To read more,click here

Costs a Barrier to Asthma Care for Some Kids

High health insurance co-pays in the United States increase the odds that children with asthma will miss out on important doctor visits and preventive medications, a new survey finds. Parents with higher co-pays reported switching to less expensive drugs, giving their children less medication than prescribed and putting off doctor visits or trips to the emergency room. "Asthma is one of the most common chronic conditions among children, and the prevalence of asthma is greater among low-income populations," said study author Vicki Fung, a health services researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. To read more,click here

NASET Sponsor - University of Kansas

Some Kids With Cochlear Implants Suffer Memory Problems

Deaf children with cochlear implants are at increased risk for developmental delays in memory and higher thinking, a new study finds. A cochlear implant is an implanted device that helps provide a sense of sound to people who are deaf or have severe hearing loss, according to the U.S. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. This study included 73 deaf children who received cochlear implants before they were 7 years old and 78 children with normal hearing. All of the children in the study had average to above-average IQ scores. To read more,click here

Increasingly, 911 Available By Text

For those who are nonverbal, deaf or otherwise have difficulty communicating via traditional telephone calls, a new option to seek emergency help is on the way. Starting this month, the nation's four main wireless networks now have the capability to support text messages sent to 911. The move is a significant step toward making the service available on a broader scale, advocates say. Text-to-911 is expected to be particularly meaningful to individuals with disabilities who may have difficulty hearing or speaking. Currently, it is possible to text 911 in communities in 16 states where emergency call centers are set up to receive and respond to the messages, according to the Federal Communications Commission. To read more,click here

Mental Illness Linked to Shortened Life Span

Serious mental illness can take between seven and 24 years off a person's life, which is similar to or worse than the impact of heavy smoking, researchers report. "We found that many mental health diagnoses are associated with a drop in life expectancy as great as that associated with smoking 20 or more cigarettes a day," Dr. Seena Fazel, of the department of psychiatry, at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, said in a university news release. "There are likely to be many reasons for this. High-risk behaviors are common in psychiatric patients, especially drug and alcohol abuse, and they are more likely to die by suicide," Fazel noted. "The stigma surrounding mental health may mean people aren't treated as well for physical health problems when they do see a doctor." To read more,click here

Children's Asthma Linked to Air Pollution in 2nd Trimester: Study

Babies born to women exposed to fine particle air pollution during the second trimester of pregnancy may be at greater risk for developing asthma in early childhood, according to a new study. Fine particle air pollution, which can be inhaled deeply, is linked to the greatest health risks, researchers cautioned. These particles can be found in smoke and haze. "We know that mothers' exposure to air pollution during pregnancy can affect lung development of their babies and lead to subsequent respiratory disorders, including asthma, although little is known about whether timing of the exposure is important to consider," said the study's lead author, Yueh-Hsiu Mathilda Chiu, from the department of pediatrics at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. To read more,click here

TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Guess the answer to this week's trivia question and we'll recognize you in next week's Week in Review.

According to the latest research in the field, teens who suffered many types of bullying are up to 31 times more likely tobring weapons such as guns and knives to schoolthan those who have not been bullied?

THE TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK WILL RETURN ON JUNE 13, 2014

NASET Sponsor - Drexel University Online

New Dialysis Machine Treats Tiniest of Newborns

Italian researchers have successfully used a small kidney dialysis machine they invented to treat newborns with kidney failure. "We have developed a machine for neonates [newborns] who were not treatable before," said lead researcher Dr. Claudio Ronco, director of the department of nephrology at San Bortolo Hospital in Vicenza. "The neonate is so small that it requires dedicated technology," he said. "To try to treat the patient with an adult machine is like trying to fix a watch with a tool that you use for a large car." To read more,click here

Delaying Measles-Related Vaccines May Raise Seizure Risk: Study

Delaying certain routine immunizations past the first 15 months of life could boost the risk of fever-related seizures, new research suggests. The risk appears very small, and the brief seizures -- due to fevers caused by the shots -- usually don't lead to any harm other than shattered nerves in parents. Still, the findings provide more evidence to support not delaying immunizations, said Dr. Simon Hambidge, professor of pediatrics and epidemiology at the University of Colorado in Denver and lead author of the new study. "It's one more reason we would recommend following the guidelines," he said. To read more,click here

Food Truck Serves Up Jobs For Those With Special Needs

A food truck famous for its gooey butter bars and rocky road cupcakes has a higher purpose - it's a training ground for people with head injuries and disorders such as autism. When the economy tanked in 2008, finding jobs for people with disabilities became an even bigger challenge, said Donna Gunning of the Center for Head Injury Services, a St. Louis nonprofit. "So we decided to take matters into our own hands and create jobs," she said. Gunning was looking for an alternative to a sheltered workshop, a business she could break down into steps like an assembly line, and she thought of making desserts. To read more,click here

Novel Blood Test May Help Predict Impending Preterm Birth

A blood-based diagnostic test accurately predicted whether 70% of female study participants with threatened preterm labor (TPTL) would or would not give birth prematurely. Results were published May 14, 2014, in the open access journal PLOS ONE, by Dr Jan Heng and Professor Stephen Lye from the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada."A lot of TPTL women are unnecessarily hospitalized," says Professor Stephen Lye. "We want to develop a test that can differentiate between true and false labor so that women in true labor can receive the appropriate medical care while women in false labor will receive supportive care and be discharged." Preterm birth worldwide remains the main cause of childbirth-related mortality in the developed world. Only 5% of the women hospitalized with signs of premature labor (i.e. TPTL) will deliver a premature baby within ten days. To read more,click here

NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT -

Group Savings Plus from Liberty Mutual

As a member ofNASETyou qualify for a special group discount* on your auto, home, and renter's insurance through Group Savings Plus® from Liberty Mutual. This unique program allows you to purchase high-quality auto, home and renters insurance at low group rates.

See for yourself how much money you could save with Liberty Mutual compared to your current insurance provider. For a free, no-obligation quote, call 800-524-9400800-524-9400 or visit

*Group discounts, other discounts, and credits are available where state laws and regulations allow, and may vary by state. Certain discounts apply to specific coverage only. To the extent permitted by law, applicants are individually underwritten; not all applicants may qualify. Coverage provided and underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and its affiliates, 175 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA.

Widely Used Drug No More Effective than FDA Approved Medication in Treating Epileptic Seizures

A National Institutes of Health-sponsored study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) showed that lorazepam -- a widely used but not yet Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug for children -- is no more effective than an approved benzodiazepine, diazepam, for treating pediatric status epilepticus.Status epilepticus is a state in which the brain is in a persistent state of seizure. By the age of 15, 4 to 8 percent of children experience a seizure episode, which can be life threatening if they aren't stopped immediately. Status epilepticus is a continuous, unremitting seizure lasting longer than five minutes or recurrent seizures without regaining consciousness between seizures for more than five minutes. To read more,click here

One in 10 16-Year-Olds Have Considered Self-Harm, Study Shows

One in ten 16-year-olds surveyed in a new study has considered self-harm or taking an overdose. "Although mental health campaigns have for some time attempted to de-stigmatise mental ill-health, by far the most likely reason why young people self-harm remains self-punishment. This suggests that young people with mental health problems keep blaming themselves for these, rather than appreciating external stressors such as pressures arising from school work or financial difficulties," researchers said.To read more,click here

No Such Thing as a 'Universal' Intelligence Test: Cultural Differences Determine Results Country by Country

Scientists from the University of Granada have studied 54 individuals -- half Spanish and half Moroccan -- to determine how IQ tests work.New research suggests that a universal test of intelligence quotient does not exist. Results in this type of test are determined to a strong degree by cultural differences. Their objective was to study and explain cultural differences in IQ test performance. To do this, scientists from CIMCYC -- the University of Granada's Brain Mind and Behavior Research Center -- conducted a study of 54 individuals aged between 18 and 54 years: 27 were Spanish and the other 27 were Moroccans residing in Spain. The groups were selected to ensure that clear cultural differences existed between them: they spoke different languages (Spanish versus Arabic), professed different religions (Christians versus Muslims), had different traditions, and came from very different geographical contexts (Europe versus Africa). To read more,click here

NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT -

Board Certification in Special Education Available to NASET Members

Through an agreement with The American Academy of Special Education Professionals(AASEP), NASET members now have the opportunity to achieve AASEP Board Certification in Special Education - (B.C.S.E.) at a reduced fee. AASEP Board Certification in Special Education - (B.C.S.E.) is a voluntary choice on the part of the candidate. The candidate for Board Certification wishes to demonstrate a commitment to excellence to employers, peers, administrators, other professionals, and parents. From the standpoint of the Academy, board certification will demonstrate the highest professional competency in the area of special education. Board Certification in Special Educationestablishes a much needed standard for professionals, across disciplines, who work with exceptional children.

For more information on Board Certification in Special Education,click here

People with severe injuries to their spinal cord currently have little prospect of recovery, and remain confined to their wheelchairs. Now, all that could change with a new treatment that stimulates the spinal cord using electric impulses. The hope is that the technique will help paraplegic patients learn to walk again. From June 3 -- 5, Fraunhofer researchers will be at the Sensor + Test measurement fair in Nürnberg to showcase the implantable microelectrode sensors they have developed in the course of pre-clinical development work. Thomas T. was just 25 years old when a severe motorcycle accident changed his life in an instant. Doctors diagnosed him with paraplegia following an injury to his spinal cord in the lumbar region. The young man has been confined to a wheelchair ever since. The diagnosis of paraplegia came as a shock, and it was only in the course of a month-long period of rehabilitation that Thomas T. was able to come to terms with his condition. Patients like him currently have no prospect of recovery, as there is still no effective course of treatment available for improving motor function among the severely disabled.To read more,click here

Screening for Autism: There's an App for That

Most schools across the United States provide simple vision tests to their students -- not to prescribe glasses, but to identify potential problems and recommend a trip to the optometrist. Researchers are now on the cusp of providing the same kind of service for autism. Researchers at Duke University have developed software that tracks and records infants' activity during videotaped autism screening tests. Their results show that the program is as good at spotting behavioral markers of autism as experts giving the test themselves, and better than non-expert medical clinicians and students in training. "We're not trying to replace the experts," said Jordan Hashemi, a graduate student in computer and electrical engineering at Duke. "We're trying to transfer the knowledge of the relatively few autism experts available into classrooms and homes across the country. We want to give people tools they don't currently have, because research has shown that early intervention can greatly impact the severity of the symptoms common in autism spectrum disorders."To read more,click here

Annual Special Education Law Symposium at Lehigh University

Lehigh University offers its annual Special Education Law Symposium from June 22 to 27, 2014 on its Bethlehem, PA campus. Featuring experienced attorney presenters from various states and balancing school and parent perspectives, the week-long symposium offers a choice of two tracks: 1) one that addresses the needs of experienced professionals who desire an in depth update by exploring current "hot topics," and 2) an alternate one that addresses the foundational needs of individuals new to special education laws, regulations, and case law. The featured keynote speakers will be Michael Yudin and Dr. Melody Musgrove, respectively the leaders of OSERS and OSEP in the U.S. Department of Education. The symposium separately includes an inaugural ALJ/IHO Institute exclusively for administrative law judges and impartial hearing officers. The symposium concludes with a National Case Law Update by Dr. Perry Zirkel. Registration options are available on a daily basis or for the week, as are graduate and continuing education credit. For program topics, fees, and other information, visit the website: coe.lehigh.edu/law or email or call Shannon Weber or Donna Johnson atspecialedlaw@lehigh.eduor (610) 758-5557(610) 758-5557.

Bipolar Disorder in Children, Adolescents: Discharge Rates Much Higher in the US Compared to UK

A significantly higher discharge rate for pediatric bipolar in children and adolescents aged 1-19 years has been found in the US compared to England. "The finding that the disparity between US and English discharge rates for PBD is markedly greater than the disparity for child psychiatric discharge rates overall, and for adult rates for bipolar disorder, is potentially important. However, the study design does not allow us to answer the question whether US clinicians are too liberal in assigning the diagnosis of bipolar disorder to youth or, alternatively, whether English clinicians fail to recognize or diagnose these illnesses. It is clear that the reasons for the disparity in the case of PBD warrant further study," the lead author says.To read more,click here

Honor Society for Special Education Teachers

In Hunt For Autism Treatments, A Push For Brains

Autism researchers say they desperately need people with the developmental disorder to become brain donors. Now a new network is launching to streamline efforts to solicit donations. Known as Autism BrainNet, the multi-site collaboration launching Friday will collect, store and distribute brain tissue to researchers. A companion website offers information for those considering brain donation and provides an opportunity to sign up to become a donor at death. Researchers say that brain tissue samples are critical to identifying the underlying neurological differences responsible for autism. However, with just four to six brain donations per year, scientific progress has been slow, they say. To read more,click here

Participants Sought for Study Being Conducted by U.S. Department of Education

We are seeking Special Educators to participate in an interesting study funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Please forward this email to any people or groups you think might be interested in participating. Participants must:

Currently serve at least one student with complex communication needs at any grade level, including early intervention/early childhood special education.

Be responsible for developing communication-related IEP/IFSP goals for one student, as described above.

NOT currently use the Communication Matrix to evaluate students

Participants will receive an honorarium ranging from $200-$350 depending on the group they are assigned to.

If you are interested in further details about this study, please email cooal@ohsu.edu.

Grant #H327A110010

U. S. Dept. of Education

Dr. Charity Rowland, P. I.

Vitamin D Supplements May Not Help Ease Asthma

Vitamin D supplements do little to help control asthma, a new study found, although they might help cut the level of medication some patients need. "Previous studies suggested that if you have asthma and low levels of vitamin D in the blood, you have worse lung function, more asthma attacks and more emergency room visits than asthma patients with higher vitamin D levels," Dr. Mario Castro, a professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, explained in a university news release. To read more,click here

No Link Found Between Low Sperm Count, Birth Defects

Having a low sperm count doesn't seem to determine whether a man's children will be born with birth defects, a new study indicates. With infertile couples, men are partially or fully responsible for the inability to conceive about 40 percent of the time. Assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization can help couples have children, but research has suggested a possible link between these approaches -- when used to treat infertility problems in the male partner -- and a higher risk of birth defects. In the new study, researchers examined a Baylor College of Medicine database in search of possible connections between birth defects and low sperm count. The researchers didn't find any links. To read more,click here

NASET's Latest Job Listings

* $125,000 Salary for Master Middle School Teachers! - Featured in The New York Times and on 60 Minutes, TEP is the school that pays its experienced teachers a $125,000 salary to work on a team of master practitioners in an environment that values and develops teaching excellence. To learn more - Click here

* Preschool Head Teacher - The school enrolls 80 children each year ages 3-8. As a laboratory school, EPCS brings together teachers, students and families to learn about child development /education and observe children interacting with one another and with adults. It is a place to try new ideas, take risks and to grow as learners. To learn more - Click here

* Preschool Head Teacher - The Head Teacher's responsibilities include providing a dynamic, developmental, inclusive program for preschool children, working with families, therapists, team-teaching and supervising University undergraduate and graduate students. To learn more - Click here

* Kindergarten Head Teacher - The Head Teacher's responsibilities include providing a dynamic, developmental, inclusive program for kindergarten children, working with families, therapists, team-teaching and supervising University undergraduate and graduate students. To learn more - Click here

* Elementary Life Skills - Special Education teachers plan and provide learning experiences for students with disabilities, including cognitive, emotional, or physical disabilities, in a variety of educational settings. To learn more - Click here

* Elementary and Secondary Resource Teacher - The Anchorage School District has almost 48,000 students that attend 97 schools. We support a variety of school programs and alternative choices for students and families. Our school population is diverse and talented with over 90 languages spoken by our students. To learn more -Click here

Food For Thought..........

If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters.